Centreville Asst. Police Chief Indicted

Corey Allen, the assistant police chief in the small Metro East community of Centreville, has been indicted by a grand jury for making false statements to federal agents.

U.S. Attorney Stephen Wigginton says a federal grand jury found that Allen, 31, lied when he told investigators that he had not sold a gun to a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that Allen sold the felon, who has not been named, the gun in May, 2012.

"While it is never pleasant to prosecute a police officer, it is only by holding all law enforcement to the highest standards of conduct that I can assure the citizens of southern Illinois that they should have confidence and trust in their officers," Wigginton said in a statement.

Allen was placed on administrative leave last week, given the federal investigation. He couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. Court records don't show whether he has an attorney. Allen - who's the former police chief in nearby Alorton - doesn't have a listed home telephone number.

Making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and not more than three years supervised release after prison.